On 1st April 2005, Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd merged. Yamanouchi, the surviving company, was renamed Astellas, and Fujisawa was dissolved (merger ratio = Yamanouchi: Fujisawa 1:0.71). Headquarters for the combined business are in Tokyo, Japan, with locally operated Regional Headquarters in the US, Europe and Asia.

The aim of Astellas is to secure a top share in the Japanese pharmaceutical market; the combined company now has 5,000 medical representatives, the largest among domestic pharmaceutical companies, and it aims to develop an even stronger sales and marketing infrastructure. The company also expects to be able to provide broad coverage for both primary care physicians and speciality markets in the US by leveraging the existing infrastructures to accelerate expansion of the US business.

The combined company is aiming to achieve economies of scale through the integration of the R&D, and sales and marketing capabilities of both the companies, as well as to further improve its profitability through the establishment of more efficient operational structures.

Astellas has a broad portfolio, with strength in the areas of Cardiovascular, Inflammation/Immunology, Urology, Gastrointestinal, Central Nervous System and Infectious Disease.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A detailed and comprehensive overview of current financial position, company strategy, product and pipeline analysis.